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Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.
Antique Handcolored Engraving of Turtles and Tortoises, c.1800
£75 ($100, €90)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1800
- Size
- 9.3 × 7.7 in (23.5 × 19.5 cm)
- Condition
- Fair. Fair condition. Age-related toning, edge wear and brownish hue, no text on verso. Colors remain vibrant and well preserved. Please review images carefully.
- Period
- Early 19th century
- Artist or book
- Bertuch
- Section
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Reference
- f_42559652
Antique Handcolored Engraving of Turtles and Tortoises, Amphibien XXXVII, c.1800
This original handcolored copperplate engraving depicts a variety of turtles and tortoises, highlighting their distinctive shells, body shapes, and habitats. The plate is from Friedrich Johann Bertuch’s *Bilderbuch für Kinder* (Picture Book for Children), a celebrated 12-volume natural history encyclopedia published between 1790 and 1830, admired for its educational and artistic value.
The engraving includes:
1. A land tortoise (*Testudo spp.*), depicted with its domed shell and robust limbs (Fig. 1).
2. A pond turtle (*Emys spp.*), with a flatter shell adapted for aquatic environments (Fig. 2).
3. A colorful box turtle (*Terrapene spp.*), noted for its intricate shell pattern (Fig. 3).
4. A softshell turtle (*Apalone spp.*), characterized by its leathery carapace (Fig. 4).
5. A snapping turtle (*Chelydra serpentina*), shown with its rugged shell and powerful jaws (Fig. 5).
6. A view of a turtle's plastron (underside), detailing the intricate pattern (Fig. 6).
7. A side-necked turtle (*Chelidae*), with its elongated neck and unique defensive posture (Fig. 7).
This engraving captures the diversity and adaptations of these fascinating reptiles, making it a valuable addition to collections of natural history art, antique prints, or herpetological studies.
Condition Report
Fair condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, and some visible text bleed-through from verso. Colors remain vivid and well preserved. Please review images carefully.
